1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:02,720 We have a marvelous story if you’ll have your Bible open 2 00:00:02,720 –> 00:00:05,140 at 2 Samuel chapter six. 3 00:00:05,140 –> 00:00:07,800 We’re going to look at the story of the ark. 4 00:00:07,800 –> 00:00:09,060 Now this is not, by the way, 5 00:00:09,060 –> 00:00:11,520 Noah’s ark, though there were points last night 6 00:00:11,520 –> 00:00:13,340 where I thought that perhaps that sermon 7 00:00:13,340 –> 00:00:15,560 was going to be needed this morning. 8 00:00:15,560 –> 00:00:18,900 This is the raiders of the lost ark. 9 00:00:18,900 –> 00:00:21,580 If that gives you another point of reference, 10 00:00:21,580 –> 00:00:24,280 and we’re going to look at a very remarkable story 11 00:00:24,280 –> 00:00:27,120 related to it in the Bible today. 12 00:00:27,120 –> 00:00:28,820 Now let me tell you right up front 13 00:00:28,840 –> 00:00:30,580 where the message here is going. 14 00:00:30,580 –> 00:00:33,939 This is a story that speaks especially 15 00:00:33,939 –> 00:00:37,439 to the person who is disappointed with God. 16 00:00:37,439 –> 00:00:40,799 Something has happened, perhaps, in your life, 17 00:00:40,799 –> 00:00:43,380 and you say, I don’t know why God could have done that 18 00:00:43,380 –> 00:00:44,959 or how he could have allowed that. 19 00:00:44,959 –> 00:00:48,299 And ever since it has created some distance 20 00:00:48,299 –> 00:00:50,480 between you and the Lord. 21 00:00:50,480 –> 00:00:54,439 This story speaks to your situation. 22 00:00:54,439 –> 00:00:56,299 It’s also a story that speaks 23 00:00:56,360 –> 00:01:00,279 about missing out on the blessing of God. 24 00:01:00,279 –> 00:01:05,279 There’s blessing that we could be enjoying in Jesus Christ, 25 00:01:05,599 –> 00:01:08,599 more than we are enjoying right now. 26 00:01:08,599 –> 00:01:12,559 It speaks about discovering joy in God, 27 00:01:12,559 –> 00:01:14,320 rediscovering joy in God. 28 00:01:14,320 –> 00:01:18,120 Perhaps you once knew a greater joy in the Lord 29 00:01:18,120 –> 00:01:19,279 than you know right now. 30 00:01:19,279 –> 00:01:23,480 This story speaks to your situation. 31 00:01:23,519 –> 00:01:26,320 And then if you have loved ones 32 00:01:26,320 –> 00:01:29,339 who do not love the Lord as you do, 33 00:01:29,339 –> 00:01:32,400 then this story absolutely speaks to you. 34 00:01:32,400 –> 00:01:35,879 So there are multiple applications from this story, 35 00:01:35,879 –> 00:01:38,040 and I want you to know where we’re headed 36 00:01:38,040 –> 00:01:40,080 as we look at this remarkable part 37 00:01:40,080 –> 00:01:42,739 of the Scripture together today. 38 00:01:42,739 –> 00:01:44,680 Now I need to take a few moments 39 00:01:44,680 –> 00:01:47,419 just to give a little bit of background about the Ark 40 00:01:47,419 –> 00:01:49,599 so that we can understand the story 41 00:01:49,599 –> 00:01:51,800 that is before us today. 42 00:01:52,040 –> 00:01:54,860 So by way of filling that in, 43 00:01:54,860 –> 00:01:56,879 the Ark that we’re speaking about 44 00:01:56,879 –> 00:01:59,680 was basically a wooden chest. 45 00:01:59,680 –> 00:02:02,540 It was about four feet long, about two feet wide, 46 00:02:02,540 –> 00:02:03,720 about two feet high. 47 00:02:03,720 –> 00:02:07,419 It was overlaid with gold, and so that thing 48 00:02:07,419 –> 00:02:09,139 weighed a ton. 49 00:02:09,139 –> 00:02:11,639 It had a lid on it, and on the lid 50 00:02:11,639 –> 00:02:14,199 there were two golden figures 51 00:02:14,199 –> 00:02:17,699 that represented cherubim, angelic figures 52 00:02:17,699 –> 00:02:20,600 that were carved from gold. 53 00:02:20,600 –> 00:02:22,880 And the significance of the Ark 54 00:02:22,880 –> 00:02:25,860 was that God had said that he would meet 55 00:02:25,860 –> 00:02:28,539 with his people there. 56 00:02:28,539 –> 00:02:32,100 You have that in Exodus chapter 25 in verse 22, 57 00:02:32,100 –> 00:02:33,520 where God says about the Ark, 58 00:02:33,520 –> 00:02:35,380 there I will meet you. 59 00:02:35,380 –> 00:02:36,619 I’m gonna meet you there. 60 00:02:36,619 –> 00:02:37,619 I’ll come down. 61 00:02:37,619 –> 00:02:40,020 My presence will actually be made known 62 00:02:40,020 –> 00:02:41,300 at that Ark. 63 00:02:42,360 –> 00:02:45,220 And there I will speak to you. 64 00:02:45,220 –> 00:02:48,539 I’ll actually come down between these two golden 65 00:02:48,539 –> 00:02:50,199 figures of the Cherubim, 66 00:02:50,199 –> 00:02:52,880 and my presence will be made known 67 00:02:52,880 –> 00:02:55,360 right there at the Ark. 68 00:02:55,360 –> 00:02:58,679 And if you look in verse two of Second Samuel six 69 00:02:58,679 –> 00:02:59,759 that’s before us today, 70 00:02:59,759 –> 00:03:01,759 you will see that the Ark of God, 71 00:03:01,759 –> 00:03:04,919 which was called by the name of the Lord of hosts 72 00:03:04,919 –> 00:03:07,559 who sits enthroned on the Cherubim. 73 00:03:07,559 –> 00:03:09,919 That’s a reference to the fact that God’s presence 74 00:03:09,919 –> 00:03:12,520 actually came down to that place 75 00:03:12,520 –> 00:03:17,279 and was tied in the Old Testament to the Ark. 76 00:03:17,300 –> 00:03:19,300 God says, when I come among you, 77 00:03:19,300 –> 00:03:22,800 this is where I will come. 78 00:03:22,800 –> 00:03:24,179 Now this Ark, 79 00:03:24,179 –> 00:03:27,100 and this is important to understand for the story today 80 00:03:27,100 –> 00:03:29,699 was never to be seen. 81 00:03:30,699 –> 00:03:34,300 In fact, in Numbers and chapter four, 82 00:03:34,300 –> 00:03:38,399 God says anyone who saw the Ark 83 00:03:39,240 –> 00:03:43,699 or anyone who touched the Ark 84 00:03:43,699 –> 00:03:46,119 would immediately die. 85 00:03:46,119 –> 00:03:48,520 Because of course God’s presence 86 00:03:48,520 –> 00:03:51,199 had been promised to that particular place 87 00:03:51,199 –> 00:03:52,960 and so to look upon the Ark 88 00:03:52,960 –> 00:03:56,360 was in effect to be looking on the presence of God 89 00:03:56,360 –> 00:03:59,339 and no sinner can do that and survive. 90 00:04:00,320 –> 00:04:05,320 Now the Ark therefore was kept hidden behind a curtain 91 00:04:05,500 –> 00:04:07,899 so that no one looked at it directly 92 00:04:07,899 –> 00:04:10,199 and only one person was ever allowed 93 00:04:10,199 –> 00:04:12,000 to go behind that curtain 94 00:04:12,000 –> 00:04:14,080 and that was the High Priest 95 00:04:14,100 –> 00:04:17,839 who had a special role to go into the presence of God 96 00:04:17,839 –> 00:04:19,160 on behalf of the people 97 00:04:19,160 –> 00:04:21,100 and of course that was to teach us 98 00:04:21,100 –> 00:04:24,079 about the significance of Christ who was to come. 99 00:04:24,980 –> 00:04:28,019 Now this Ark was made according to the instructions of God 100 00:04:28,019 –> 00:04:30,200 when God’s people were in the wilderness 101 00:04:30,200 –> 00:04:32,399 and so it had to be moved around 102 00:04:32,399 –> 00:04:35,760 and the people who were responsible for moving the Ark 103 00:04:35,760 –> 00:04:40,320 were a group of the Levites called the Coethites 104 00:04:40,320 –> 00:04:42,480 and they had this particular challenge. 105 00:04:42,480 –> 00:04:45,160 They had to move the Ark without seeing it 106 00:04:45,160 –> 00:04:46,720 and without touching it 107 00:04:46,720 –> 00:04:48,239 which makes you kinda scratch your head. 108 00:04:48,239 –> 00:04:52,019 How would you move the Ark without even seeing it? 109 00:04:52,019 –> 00:04:53,640 Well, what happened, very simply, 110 00:04:53,640 –> 00:04:56,640 was that the Coethites came to the curtain 111 00:04:56,640 –> 00:04:58,859 that was in front of the Ark. 112 00:04:58,859 –> 00:05:01,880 They held that curtain up in front of their eyes 113 00:05:01,880 –> 00:05:04,700 so they did not look directly at the Ark. 114 00:05:04,700 –> 00:05:07,779 They marched forward and they draped the curtain 115 00:05:07,779 –> 00:05:10,959 over the Ark so they never actually saw it. 116 00:05:11,959 –> 00:05:14,519 And you say, well how did they move it without touching it? 117 00:05:14,519 –> 00:05:18,500 Well, again God had provided that there were golden rings, 118 00:05:18,500 –> 00:05:20,600 two on each side of the Ark 119 00:05:20,600 –> 00:05:24,820 and through that, poles that were overlaid with gold. 120 00:05:24,820 –> 00:05:28,239 And so when the Ark was draped with the curtains 121 00:05:28,239 –> 00:05:30,100 so that it wasn’t seen, 122 00:05:30,100 –> 00:05:31,839 the Coethites then came along 123 00:05:31,839 –> 00:05:34,880 and put their shoulders underneath the poles 124 00:05:34,880 –> 00:05:37,920 and lifted the Ark without actually touching it. 125 00:05:37,920 –> 00:05:39,040 They only touched the poles, 126 00:05:39,040 –> 00:05:40,760 they never actually touched the Ark 127 00:05:40,779 –> 00:05:43,000 and so, this was all prescribed 128 00:05:43,000 –> 00:05:44,359 and you can read it in detail 129 00:05:44,359 –> 00:05:48,600 in the Book of Numbers and chapter four. 130 00:05:48,600 –> 00:05:50,679 This was dangerous work. 131 00:05:50,679 –> 00:05:51,839 I mean, they were like 132 00:05:51,839 –> 00:05:54,640 a sort of early bomb disposal experts 133 00:05:54,640 –> 00:05:55,459 or something like that. 134 00:05:55,459 –> 00:05:56,720 I think, you got to work today. 135 00:05:56,720 –> 00:06:00,660 We’ve got the most dangerous job a Levite can have 136 00:06:00,660 –> 00:06:02,859 where moving the Ark of God 137 00:06:02,859 –> 00:06:06,200 and we didn’t see it and we didn’t touch it. 138 00:06:06,200 –> 00:06:09,839 Now of course, all of this was given by God 139 00:06:10,320 –> 00:06:13,440 because everything in the Old Testament is to teach us 140 00:06:13,440 –> 00:06:15,640 and it teaches us very very powerfully 141 00:06:15,640 –> 00:06:18,299 that the presence of God is a dangerous place 142 00:06:18,299 –> 00:06:19,779 for any sinner to be. 143 00:06:21,079 –> 00:06:23,679 Now, there were many remarkable stories 144 00:06:23,679 –> 00:06:25,859 that surrounded the ark, 145 00:06:25,859 –> 00:06:28,559 stories of God’s power at different times 146 00:06:28,559 –> 00:06:32,920 breaking out and extraordinary things happening. 147 00:06:32,920 –> 00:06:34,880 On one occasion after a battle 148 00:06:34,880 –> 00:06:37,320 when God’s people had been defeated, 149 00:06:38,160 –> 00:06:40,600 they reckoned maybe next time we go to war 150 00:06:40,600 –> 00:06:42,079 we should take the ark with us 151 00:06:42,079 –> 00:06:44,320 and they were becoming superstitious 152 00:06:44,320 –> 00:06:46,440 at that point rather than trusting in God. 153 00:06:46,440 –> 00:06:49,640 You know, maybe this ark will give us better luck. 154 00:06:49,640 –> 00:06:51,799 And of course that didn’t work. 155 00:06:51,799 –> 00:06:54,519 It was exactly like the kind of attitude of people 156 00:06:54,519 –> 00:06:56,380 who say I don’t want God in my life 157 00:06:56,380 –> 00:06:57,440 but if I’m in trouble, 158 00:06:57,440 –> 00:07:00,600 I’ll call on him and see if that makes any difference. 159 00:07:00,600 –> 00:07:02,720 And of course that didn’t work. 160 00:07:02,720 –> 00:07:04,679 And what happened when they took the ark 161 00:07:04,679 –> 00:07:06,959 onto the field of battle the next time 162 00:07:07,019 –> 00:07:08,359 was that they got defeated. 163 00:07:08,359 –> 00:07:11,679 Only this time their enemies, the Philistines, 164 00:07:11,679 –> 00:07:14,279 captured the ark of God. 165 00:07:14,279 –> 00:07:17,160 Well, they couldn’t have been more delighted. 166 00:07:17,160 –> 00:07:19,359 You know, not only have we defeated God’s people, 167 00:07:19,359 –> 00:07:21,140 we’ve actually captured their God. 168 00:07:21,140 –> 00:07:23,779 And so they took the ark 169 00:07:23,779 –> 00:07:26,920 and they put it in the temple of their God, 170 00:07:26,920 –> 00:07:30,000 an idol by the name of Dagon, 171 00:07:30,000 –> 00:07:32,239 a large idol that was in this temple. 172 00:07:33,239 –> 00:07:35,679 But of course God is never captured. 173 00:07:35,679 –> 00:07:37,299 And the following morning 174 00:07:37,299 –> 00:07:41,399 when the attendants came to open up the temple of Dagon, 175 00:07:41,399 –> 00:07:45,440 they found that the idol Dagon had fallen from its stand 176 00:07:45,440 –> 00:07:50,059 and was smashed on the floor in front of the ark of God. 177 00:07:50,059 –> 00:07:51,040 So they began to say, 178 00:07:51,040 –> 00:07:52,600 we gotta get this ark out of here. 179 00:07:52,600 –> 00:07:53,859 It is gonna be trouble. 180 00:07:53,859 –> 00:07:57,040 Strange things happen with this ark. 181 00:07:57,040 –> 00:07:59,320 The temple was in a town called Ashdod. 182 00:07:59,320 –> 00:08:03,299 So they sent it on to the next Philistine city, 183 00:08:03,299 –> 00:08:05,720 a place called Gath. 184 00:08:05,720 –> 00:08:07,940 And when the ark arrived in Gath, 185 00:08:07,940 –> 00:08:10,339 people began getting ill. 186 00:08:10,339 –> 00:08:11,500 And so the people at Gath said, 187 00:08:11,500 –> 00:08:12,640 we don’t want that thing here. 188 00:08:12,640 –> 00:08:14,980 They sent it on to the next town, a place called Ekran, 189 00:08:14,980 –> 00:08:17,660 and the same thing happened. 190 00:08:17,660 –> 00:08:19,459 And so the leaders of Ekran said, 191 00:08:19,459 –> 00:08:20,459 we gotta get rid of this thing. 192 00:08:20,459 –> 00:08:22,739 What are we gonna do with it? 193 00:08:22,739 –> 00:08:25,380 And so they brought in counselors 194 00:08:25,380 –> 00:08:29,600 who to their great credit spoke with wisdom and they said, 195 00:08:29,600 –> 00:08:31,440 you know, this god is very powerful. 196 00:08:32,059 –> 00:08:34,960 And so you’d better not be like Pharaoh 197 00:08:34,960 –> 00:08:36,539 who hardened his heart. 198 00:08:36,539 –> 00:08:38,280 They knew that old story. 199 00:08:39,179 –> 00:08:40,640 They said, here’s what you should do. 200 00:08:40,640 –> 00:08:43,219 You put the ark on a cart, 201 00:08:43,219 –> 00:08:45,099 you tie it to some cows, 202 00:08:45,099 –> 00:08:47,380 and send it back to Israel. 203 00:08:47,380 –> 00:08:48,219 And that’s what they did. 204 00:08:48,219 –> 00:08:50,020 The cows were sent off in the direction 205 00:08:50,020 –> 00:08:51,940 of the border of Israel. 206 00:08:51,940 –> 00:08:53,859 And to cut a long story short, 207 00:08:53,859 –> 00:08:56,840 eventually the ark arrived 208 00:08:56,840 –> 00:09:00,840 at the home of a man called Abinadab. 209 00:09:02,200 –> 00:09:06,419 And it remained neglected 210 00:09:06,419 –> 00:09:08,500 for an entire generation 211 00:09:08,500 –> 00:09:11,359 during the years of King Saul 212 00:09:11,359 –> 00:09:16,219 in the home of this man called Abinadab. 213 00:09:16,219 –> 00:09:17,780 Now, that brings us to where we are 214 00:09:17,780 –> 00:09:20,299 in 2 Samuel chapter six 215 00:09:20,299 –> 00:09:22,500 where we take up the story. 216 00:09:22,500 –> 00:09:24,419 And you remember that at this point, 217 00:09:24,419 –> 00:09:25,880 David has now become king. 218 00:09:25,880 –> 00:09:28,419 He’s been anointed, as we saw last time, 219 00:09:28,419 –> 00:09:31,340 by all of the tribes who have been brought together 220 00:09:31,539 –> 00:09:34,320 as one under the blessing of his rule. 221 00:09:34,320 –> 00:09:37,179 But he knows that this kingdom is not his, 222 00:09:37,179 –> 00:09:40,059 it is the kingdom that God is giving to him 223 00:09:40,059 –> 00:09:44,059 and therefore he wants God to be at the very center. 224 00:09:44,059 –> 00:09:48,260 And so unlike a whole generation under the reign of Saul 225 00:09:48,260 –> 00:09:50,780 where the ark has been neglected and forgotten 226 00:09:50,780 –> 00:09:53,700 in the house of this man Abinadab, 227 00:09:53,700 –> 00:09:55,900 David decides right at the beginning 228 00:09:55,900 –> 00:09:59,539 that he wants the presence of God 229 00:09:59,539 –> 00:10:01,539 tied to the ark to be brought 230 00:10:01,539 –> 00:10:03,880 to the very center of his kingdom, 231 00:10:03,880 –> 00:10:07,119 of his life and of his people. 232 00:10:07,119 –> 00:10:09,140 And that’s the story that we have here 233 00:10:09,140 –> 00:10:10,320 beginning at verse one 234 00:10:10,320 –> 00:10:12,900 where we’re told that David again gathered 235 00:10:12,900 –> 00:10:17,479 all the chosen men of Israel, 30,000. 236 00:10:18,559 –> 00:10:23,559 And you’ve gotta imagine now a crowd of 30,000 people 237 00:10:24,140 –> 00:10:27,219 and they’re all going down this way, 238 00:10:27,239 –> 00:10:31,000 this path, this road from Jerusalem 239 00:10:31,000 –> 00:10:33,599 to the house of Abinadab which was about 240 00:10:33,599 –> 00:10:35,739 10 miles away. 241 00:10:36,859 –> 00:10:40,099 And they arrive at this house 242 00:10:40,099 –> 00:10:43,900 and Abinadab has two sons, 243 00:10:43,900 –> 00:10:46,320 their names are Uzzah 244 00:10:46,320 –> 00:10:49,320 and Ahiol. 245 00:10:49,320 –> 00:10:53,739 Now picture with me the scene at the breakfast table 246 00:10:53,739 –> 00:10:55,619 in the house of Abinadab. 247 00:10:57,659 –> 00:11:00,820 Boys, Abinadab says, 248 00:11:00,820 –> 00:11:02,900 this is going to be a great day. 249 00:11:04,539 –> 00:11:06,859 The King’s coming 250 00:11:06,859 –> 00:11:10,299 with 30,000 people 251 00:11:11,359 –> 00:11:13,440 and he’s coming to bring the ark 252 00:11:13,440 –> 00:11:16,260 that’s been here in this house for a generation 253 00:11:16,260 –> 00:11:19,140 and he’s going to take it to his own capital, 254 00:11:19,140 –> 00:11:21,340 the city of Jerusalem itself. 255 00:11:21,340 –> 00:11:24,500 And my boys, you have this great privilege, 256 00:11:24,500 –> 00:11:27,460 you are going to lead the procession. 257 00:11:27,460 –> 00:11:29,140 This is going to be a great day. 258 00:11:30,880 –> 00:11:32,640 Huh, says Uzzah. 259 00:11:33,539 –> 00:11:35,880 You mean we’re gonna have to carry the ark? 260 00:11:36,780 –> 00:11:38,260 That thing weighs a ton! 261 00:11:39,820 –> 00:11:42,299 Yes, says Ohio, and it’s ten miles 262 00:11:42,299 –> 00:11:43,840 and as some of you know, 263 00:11:43,840 –> 00:11:46,859 every road to Jerusalem is uphill. 264 00:11:46,859 –> 00:11:49,179 Ten miles uphill carrying that thing? 265 00:11:49,179 –> 00:11:50,960 Huh, not likely. 266 00:11:51,960 –> 00:11:54,419 Wouldn’t it be easier if we put it on a cart? 267 00:11:55,479 –> 00:11:58,559 Well, says the old man. 268 00:11:58,559 –> 00:12:02,059 God gave very precise instructions 269 00:12:02,059 –> 00:12:05,219 about how this ark is to be moved. 270 00:12:06,119 –> 00:12:08,679 Ah, Dad, it’s an old piece of furniture 271 00:12:08,679 –> 00:12:10,859 and a bunch of sacred traditions 272 00:12:10,859 –> 00:12:12,159 that’s been sitting around here 273 00:12:12,159 –> 00:12:14,799 wrapped up in a curtain for a generation. 274 00:12:14,799 –> 00:12:18,880 If we have to move it, we’re putting it on a cart. 275 00:12:18,880 –> 00:12:21,780 And that is what they did, verse three. 276 00:12:21,840 –> 00:12:24,840 They carried the ark of the Lord, 277 00:12:24,840 –> 00:12:28,159 not as God had prescribed, but on a new cart. 278 00:12:29,080 –> 00:12:33,000 And they brought it out the house of Abenadab 279 00:12:33,000 –> 00:12:36,700 which was on the hill and Aza and Ahio, 280 00:12:36,700 –> 00:12:38,219 the sons of Abenadab, 281 00:12:38,219 –> 00:12:41,840 they were the ones who were driving the cart. 282 00:12:41,840 –> 00:12:43,200 Now that’s the story. 283 00:12:43,200 –> 00:12:46,960 I want to draw on four themes, then, from this story. 284 00:12:46,960 –> 00:12:51,580 The first is taking offense at the judgment of God. 285 00:12:51,599 –> 00:12:53,539 Now follow what happened with me. 286 00:12:53,539 –> 00:12:57,020 Verse five, the procession clearly started out well. 287 00:12:57,020 –> 00:12:58,840 David and all the house of Israel 288 00:12:58,840 –> 00:13:01,059 were celebrating before the Lord. 289 00:13:01,059 –> 00:13:02,679 You picture this long line, 290 00:13:02,679 –> 00:13:06,260 30,000 people behind the cart and the Ark of the Covenant, 291 00:13:06,260 –> 00:13:08,020 and they’re singing and there are lyres 292 00:13:08,020 –> 00:13:12,059 and harps and tambourines, and cast nets and cymbals. 293 00:13:12,059 –> 00:13:13,159 What a party! 294 00:13:13,159 –> 00:13:14,659 30,000 people. 295 00:13:14,659 –> 00:13:17,520 One commentator says every one of them were rocking. 296 00:13:17,520 –> 00:13:19,559 I think that just about captures it. 297 00:13:20,419 –> 00:13:22,280 But then something happened 298 00:13:22,280 –> 00:13:24,940 that entirely changed the mood of the party. 299 00:13:26,419 –> 00:13:29,799 The oxen pulling the cart stumbled, 300 00:13:29,799 –> 00:13:32,659 causing the Ark to lurch over. 301 00:13:32,659 –> 00:13:36,119 And it seemed that the Ark actually would fall 302 00:13:36,119 –> 00:13:38,460 to the ground, and so Uzzah, 303 00:13:38,460 –> 00:13:42,080 he reached out to steady the Ark. 304 00:13:43,419 –> 00:13:48,260 And he touched the Ark and he died on the spot. 305 00:13:48,260 –> 00:13:50,760 Stone dead, right there, in front of the Ark. 306 00:13:52,539 –> 00:13:54,219 Now can you imagine what this was like 307 00:13:54,219 –> 00:13:56,599 if you were somewhere at the back of the 30,000 308 00:13:56,599 –> 00:13:58,619 snaking their way up that path 309 00:13:58,619 –> 00:14:01,900 towards Jerusalem from the house of Abinadab, 310 00:14:01,900 –> 00:14:05,320 and you’re going with the lyre, and the timbrel, 311 00:14:05,320 –> 00:14:07,859 and the tambourine, and all the rest of it, 312 00:14:07,859 –> 00:14:11,739 and suddenly this whole procession grinds to a halt, 313 00:14:13,000 –> 00:14:15,359 and the music stops from the front, 314 00:14:15,359 –> 00:14:17,359 and then gradually, all the way back, 315 00:14:17,359 –> 00:14:21,659 it just stops, and you say, what in the world happened? 316 00:14:22,719 –> 00:14:25,179 And the word begins to get mouthed down the lines 317 00:14:25,179 –> 00:14:29,000 of the 30,000 people, and eventually gets to you. 318 00:14:29,000 –> 00:14:30,340 Someone died. 319 00:14:31,960 –> 00:14:32,960 It’s Azza. 320 00:14:34,460 –> 00:14:36,460 He touched the Ark. 321 00:14:39,539 –> 00:14:43,760 Now friends, nobody likes this, 322 00:14:45,859 –> 00:14:49,059 even David, the man after God’s own heart, 323 00:14:49,059 –> 00:14:51,599 was offended by it. 324 00:14:51,599 –> 00:14:55,380 If you look at verse eight, and David was angry 325 00:14:55,380 –> 00:15:00,380 because the Lord had broken out against Azza. 326 00:15:02,359 –> 00:15:06,340 There are only a very, very few places in the Bible 327 00:15:06,340 –> 00:15:10,359 where God, to use David’s phrase, breaks out 328 00:15:10,880 –> 00:15:13,780 in instant judgment like this. 329 00:15:14,780 –> 00:15:19,340 On the spot judgment for infringing His law. 330 00:15:20,400 –> 00:15:24,780 It happened to Nadab and Abihu, 331 00:15:24,780 –> 00:15:26,679 two men who rebelled against God 332 00:15:26,679 –> 00:15:29,000 in the time of Moses in the Old Testament. 333 00:15:29,000 –> 00:15:32,440 And you may remember it happened to a couple 334 00:15:32,440 –> 00:15:35,479 by the name of Ananias and Sapphira 335 00:15:35,479 –> 00:15:39,520 who lied to the apostles in the New Testament. 336 00:15:40,640 –> 00:15:43,520 But these are very, very rare occurrences 337 00:15:43,520 –> 00:15:47,719 and here we have another one of them here with Uzzah. 338 00:15:48,739 –> 00:15:53,739 Normally what we find is that God is very patient. 339 00:15:55,119 –> 00:15:57,020 That God is forbearing. 340 00:15:57,919 –> 00:16:02,080 That God passes over the flouting of His law 341 00:16:02,080 –> 00:16:05,960 for the time being in order to create room 342 00:16:05,960 –> 00:16:08,099 for people to repent. 343 00:16:09,000 –> 00:16:13,280 Judgement for flouting God’s law is what happens 344 00:16:13,280 –> 00:16:17,380 when we are in His presence and that day will come. 345 00:16:18,900 –> 00:16:20,960 But of course that’s the whole point of this story, 346 00:16:20,960 –> 00:16:23,099 God said I will meet you at the ark. 347 00:16:23,099 –> 00:16:26,299 The ark was the place where God was actually present 348 00:16:26,299 –> 00:16:29,280 and therefore what you have in the presence of the ark 349 00:16:29,280 –> 00:16:32,880 is an anticipation of the day of judgement itself 350 00:16:32,880 –> 00:16:35,719 and this breaking out of the presence of God 351 00:16:35,799 –> 00:16:38,200 and the judging of sin on the spot 352 00:16:38,200 –> 00:16:41,479 and there’s Uzzah and he’s stone dead 353 00:16:41,479 –> 00:16:43,700 in front of the ark of God. 354 00:16:46,400 –> 00:16:50,239 Now the obvious question that any thinking person 355 00:16:50,239 –> 00:16:53,020 should ask at this point is 356 00:16:54,640 –> 00:16:57,559 how in the world would I ever survive 357 00:16:57,559 –> 00:16:59,719 in the presence of a God like that. 358 00:17:01,880 –> 00:17:03,559 And it’s very significant you see 359 00:17:03,700 –> 00:17:04,760 that there are not many people 360 00:17:04,760 –> 00:17:06,719 asking that question today. 361 00:17:08,119 –> 00:17:09,920 In fact there are millions who have 362 00:17:09,920 –> 00:17:12,079 never really ever asked the question 363 00:17:12,079 –> 00:17:14,000 how would I survive in the presence 364 00:17:14,000 –> 00:17:17,219 of a holy God who one day when I stand 365 00:17:17,219 –> 00:17:21,099 in his presence will judge every flouting of his law. 366 00:17:22,640 –> 00:17:25,079 Why do people not ask that question today 367 00:17:25,079 –> 00:17:30,079 because we have too often assumed 368 00:17:30,239 –> 00:17:31,920 that if there is a God at all 369 00:17:31,920 –> 00:17:33,959 he must simply be a God who accepts 370 00:17:33,959 –> 00:17:35,199 and affirms everyone. 371 00:17:36,800 –> 00:17:38,640 But do you know what we’ve got the bible 372 00:17:38,640 –> 00:17:40,640 open in front of us which is telling us 373 00:17:40,640 –> 00:17:43,260 that such a God is the figment 374 00:17:43,260 –> 00:17:47,439 of a human imagination and the God 375 00:17:47,439 –> 00:17:50,520 of the Bible is a God who judges 376 00:17:50,520 –> 00:17:52,400 the flouting of his law. 377 00:17:53,439 –> 00:17:56,520 So to take the story in any way seriously 378 00:17:56,520 –> 00:17:58,260 we have to ask this question. 379 00:17:58,260 –> 00:18:00,439 Have you seriously considered 380 00:18:00,520 –> 00:18:03,819 the God of the Bible who brings 381 00:18:03,819 –> 00:18:06,939 every flouting of his law to judgment? 382 00:18:06,939 –> 00:18:08,800 Have you considered what it will mean 383 00:18:08,800 –> 00:18:13,400 for you one day to stand before him? 384 00:18:15,839 –> 00:18:18,339 Now at this point, there are many 385 00:18:18,339 –> 00:18:20,579 who will say if that’s what God is like 386 00:18:20,579 –> 00:18:22,719 I don’t want anything to do with him. 387 00:18:24,760 –> 00:18:27,920 And it may be that in some degree 388 00:18:28,140 –> 00:18:33,140 that has been in your heart and in your mind. 389 00:18:33,239 –> 00:18:36,520 And I want you to see that at this point 390 00:18:36,520 –> 00:18:41,520 in the story, that’s actually where David was. 391 00:18:41,540 –> 00:18:46,540 He was angry, because he didn’t like what God has done. 392 00:18:49,699 –> 00:18:51,359 So let me ask you this question. 393 00:18:51,359 –> 00:18:55,099 Is there a way in which you have been offended by God? 394 00:18:55,819 –> 00:18:57,800 Has there been something in your life 395 00:18:57,800 –> 00:19:02,000 that has left you saying why did that happen? 396 00:19:02,000 –> 00:19:05,180 Why would God do that? 397 00:19:05,180 –> 00:19:07,739 And you’ve struggled to come to terms with it 398 00:19:07,739 –> 00:19:11,260 and it’s caused you, like David, to be angry with God. 399 00:19:11,260 –> 00:19:15,900 It’s led to a distance between you and God. 400 00:19:15,900 –> 00:19:16,760 Well I’m saying to you, 401 00:19:16,760 –> 00:19:21,520 this story speaks directly to you today. 402 00:19:22,660 –> 00:19:24,239 Now, I want you to notice what happens 403 00:19:24,239 –> 00:19:26,979 next because it’s very significant. 404 00:19:26,979 –> 00:19:29,079 Having taken offense at God, 405 00:19:29,079 –> 00:19:33,560 David now misses out on the blessing of God. 406 00:19:33,560 –> 00:19:36,760 And we see this in verses nine and 10. 407 00:19:36,760 –> 00:19:38,939 David was afraid of the Lord that day 408 00:19:38,939 –> 00:19:39,880 and he said, 409 00:19:39,880 –> 00:19:43,359 how can the ark of the Lord come to me? 410 00:19:43,359 –> 00:19:46,359 So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord 411 00:19:46,359 –> 00:19:49,280 into the City of David. 412 00:19:49,280 –> 00:19:51,680 In other words, what David is saying is, 413 00:19:52,599 –> 00:19:54,719 if this is what God is like, 414 00:19:54,719 –> 00:19:57,719 I don’t think I can ever be near him. 415 00:19:59,160 –> 00:20:00,479 And you know what? 416 00:20:00,479 –> 00:20:01,880 If this is what God is like, 417 00:20:01,880 –> 00:20:05,280 I’m not sure I ever want to be near him. 418 00:20:05,280 –> 00:20:08,540 I don’t want his ark in my capital city. 419 00:20:10,119 –> 00:20:13,560 So here, because he’s offended with God, 420 00:20:13,560 –> 00:20:18,560 he no longer wants to walk closely with God. 421 00:20:18,560 –> 00:20:23,560 And so, unwilling to take the ark home with him, 422 00:20:24,199 –> 00:20:26,260 we’re told verse 11, 423 00:20:26,260 –> 00:20:30,000 He took it aside to the house of, 424 00:20:30,000 –> 00:20:32,819 and here’s a man with a remarkable name and title, 425 00:20:32,819 –> 00:20:36,920 the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 426 00:20:36,920 –> 00:20:39,780 That’s quite a name and quite a title. 427 00:20:39,780 –> 00:20:42,640 Gittite, by the way, is very significant. 428 00:20:42,640 –> 00:20:45,780 A Gittite was an inhabitant of Gath, 429 00:20:45,839 –> 00:20:48,939 which was one of the five Philistine cities. 430 00:20:48,939 –> 00:20:51,020 The Philistines being the traditional enemies, 431 00:20:51,020 –> 00:20:53,260 of course, of Israel over many years. 432 00:20:53,260 –> 00:20:57,660 Goliath, who was slain by David was a Gittite. 433 00:20:57,660 –> 00:21:01,599 Now, the fact that this Gittite was in Israel 434 00:21:01,599 –> 00:21:06,219 surely indicates that as Ruth had done 435 00:21:06,219 –> 00:21:09,180 in earlier generations, 436 00:21:09,180 –> 00:21:11,780 that this Gittite had said as Ruth did, 437 00:21:11,780 –> 00:21:12,640 you know, 438 00:21:12,640 –> 00:21:13,939 Your people will be my people 439 00:21:13,939 –> 00:21:15,420 and your God will be my God. 440 00:21:16,079 –> 00:21:18,500 And this clearly was a man who had come to love 441 00:21:18,500 –> 00:21:20,619 and to worship the God of Israel, 442 00:21:20,619 –> 00:21:21,959 but he wasn’t a Jew. 443 00:21:21,959 –> 00:21:23,839 He was not an Israelite. 444 00:21:23,839 –> 00:21:25,780 He was a Gentile, 445 00:21:25,780 –> 00:21:27,280 and so here’s David, 446 00:21:27,280 –> 00:21:28,619 and he no longer wants 447 00:21:28,619 –> 00:21:29,979 the presence of God near him. 448 00:21:29,979 –> 00:21:30,819 And he says, 449 00:21:30,819 –> 00:21:32,040 Hey, take that ark 450 00:21:32,040 –> 00:21:34,060 and give it to the Gittite. 451 00:21:34,060 –> 00:21:35,239 Give it to the Gittite. 452 00:21:36,339 –> 00:21:39,819 And we read verse 11. 453 00:21:39,819 –> 00:21:41,839 the ark of the Lord remained 454 00:21:41,839 –> 00:21:44,699 in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite 455 00:21:44,739 –> 00:21:45,939 for three months. 456 00:21:45,939 –> 00:21:50,640 And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom 457 00:21:51,640 –> 00:21:54,079 and all his household. 458 00:21:54,079 –> 00:21:56,800 Now, here’s the point that we have to grasp 459 00:21:56,800 –> 00:21:58,819 at the center of this story. 460 00:21:58,819 –> 00:22:01,959 The same God who has the power to judge 461 00:22:01,959 –> 00:22:05,540 also has the power to bless, 462 00:22:05,540 –> 00:22:07,459 and you see what David said. 463 00:22:07,459 –> 00:22:08,760 He’s taken offense at God, 464 00:22:08,760 –> 00:22:09,599 and he said, 465 00:22:09,599 –> 00:22:11,699 I don’t want this God near me. 466 00:22:11,920 –> 00:22:12,760 Pain. 467 00:22:13,800 –> 00:22:16,459 And now he finds that the blessing of God 468 00:22:17,319 –> 00:22:19,040 has gone to someone else. 469 00:22:20,199 –> 00:22:23,180 He took offense at the God who judges, 470 00:22:23,180 –> 00:22:24,020 and he says, 471 00:22:24,020 –> 00:22:25,479 I don’t want him near me. 472 00:22:25,479 –> 00:22:26,780 And what he finds then, 473 00:22:26,780 –> 00:22:29,319 is that he is actually far from the blessing 474 00:22:29,319 –> 00:22:30,939 of God he had once known. 475 00:22:32,420 –> 00:22:34,260 And so I ask the second question 476 00:22:34,260 –> 00:22:36,140 to personalize this story. 477 00:22:36,140 –> 00:22:40,000 Are you missing out on the blessing of God? 478 00:22:41,780 –> 00:22:43,400 See, here’s what happens. 479 00:22:44,739 –> 00:22:48,619 You take offense at something God has done, 480 00:22:49,939 –> 00:22:53,180 and then instead of walking closely with him, 481 00:22:54,060 –> 00:22:55,260 you remove yourself 482 00:22:55,260 –> 00:22:57,939 to what you think is a safe distance from Him. 483 00:22:59,500 –> 00:23:00,819 But now what you find 484 00:23:00,819 –> 00:23:02,579 is that you’re actually missing out 485 00:23:02,579 –> 00:23:04,619 on the blessing that could be yours. 486 00:23:04,619 –> 00:23:05,719 You come to church, 487 00:23:05,719 –> 00:23:07,619 and other people around you are blessed, 488 00:23:07,619 –> 00:23:08,739 but not you. 489 00:23:09,780 –> 00:23:10,619 Why? 490 00:23:10,959 –> 00:23:12,540 Because you’ve distanced yourself 491 00:23:12,540 –> 00:23:13,359 from this God who offended you, 492 00:23:13,359 –> 00:23:14,400 and in doing so, 493 00:23:14,400 –> 00:23:15,699 you’ve distanced yourself 494 00:23:15,699 –> 00:23:18,199 from the God who blesses. 495 00:23:19,739 –> 00:23:21,719 You know, if that’s your position today, 496 00:23:21,719 –> 00:23:24,420 I want to say to you, person, 497 00:23:25,619 –> 00:23:26,699 friend, 498 00:23:27,819 –> 00:23:29,880 you’ve been offended by God. 499 00:23:31,459 –> 00:23:34,420 I’m saying to you from the story of David. 500 00:23:34,420 –> 00:23:36,040 There is blessing 501 00:23:36,040 –> 00:23:39,079 that you could be enjoying right now. 502 00:23:40,719 –> 00:23:41,560 There is blessing 503 00:23:41,560 –> 00:23:45,060 that you could be bringing to other people right now. 504 00:23:46,680 –> 00:23:50,719 But if you cling to what has offended you, 505 00:23:51,719 –> 00:23:55,680 you will forfeit the blessing that could be yours. 506 00:23:57,900 –> 00:24:00,420 Now, that leads to the third point in the story, 507 00:24:00,420 –> 00:24:03,099 which is the restoration of David’s joy 508 00:24:03,099 –> 00:24:04,920 and the great change of heart 509 00:24:04,920 –> 00:24:08,500 as he now finds joy in the presence of God. 510 00:24:09,500 –> 00:24:10,719 To David’s great credit, 511 00:24:10,719 –> 00:24:13,439 he realizes that he’s made a huge mistake. 512 00:24:13,439 –> 00:24:15,439 Okay, I’ve taken offense at God, 513 00:24:15,439 –> 00:24:18,160 but now I realize I’m missing out on the blessing of God. 514 00:24:18,160 –> 00:24:20,000 I’ve just chosen the wrong path. 515 00:24:20,000 –> 00:24:21,400 The blessing that could have been mine 516 00:24:21,400 –> 00:24:23,020 has gone somewhere else. 517 00:24:25,479 –> 00:24:28,660 And so he sees that there is absolutely no future whatsoever 518 00:24:28,660 –> 00:24:31,359 in holding on to this anger with God. 519 00:24:31,359 –> 00:24:34,439 Verse 12, it was told to the king, 520 00:24:34,439 –> 00:24:37,420 the Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom 521 00:24:37,459 –> 00:24:40,540 and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God. 522 00:24:41,699 –> 00:24:46,459 And so David went and brought up the ark of God 523 00:24:46,459 –> 00:24:49,739 from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David. 524 00:24:49,739 –> 00:24:51,000 And notice how he did it. 525 00:24:51,000 –> 00:24:53,500 He did it with rejoicing. 526 00:24:55,780 –> 00:24:57,859 You know, if you look at the parallel passage 527 00:24:57,859 –> 00:25:01,239 in first Chronicles and chapter 15, 528 00:25:01,239 –> 00:25:05,339 it tells us how David, with, in meticulous detail, 529 00:25:05,339 –> 00:25:10,260 lined up the Levites and gave very precise instructions 530 00:25:10,260 –> 00:25:12,540 that were directly taken out of the book of Numbers 531 00:25:12,540 –> 00:25:14,020 in chapter four. 532 00:25:14,020 –> 00:25:16,880 It’s as if he’s saying, now guys, we got it so wrong 533 00:25:16,880 –> 00:25:19,079 trying to do it our own way last time. 534 00:25:20,640 –> 00:25:22,619 We’re gonna seek the presence of God 535 00:25:22,619 –> 00:25:24,500 in the way that he’s proscribed. 536 00:25:24,500 –> 00:25:27,300 We’re gonna do it God’s way this time. 537 00:25:28,500 –> 00:25:31,660 And so they do it exactly as it was laid out 538 00:25:31,660 –> 00:25:34,219 in the Law of God and Numbers and chapter four 539 00:25:34,219 –> 00:25:36,880 and on the poles and on the shoulders of the Kohaithites, 540 00:25:36,880 –> 00:25:40,500 the draped ark is brought to the place 541 00:25:40,500 –> 00:25:44,260 prepared for it by David in the city of Jerusalem 542 00:25:44,260 –> 00:25:47,260 and now there is great joy. 543 00:25:48,939 –> 00:25:50,260 You see what we’re being told here? 544 00:25:50,260 –> 00:25:53,060 If you try to draw near to God on your own terms 545 00:25:53,060 –> 00:25:54,439 it won’t go well for you. 546 00:25:55,780 –> 00:25:57,540 You have to come to God. 547 00:25:57,540 –> 00:26:00,280 You have to draw near to the presence of God 548 00:26:00,280 –> 00:26:03,660 in the way that God has proscribed 549 00:26:03,920 –> 00:26:07,939 and when you do, you will be blessed 550 00:26:09,319 –> 00:26:11,979 and David has joy because he realizes 551 00:26:11,979 –> 00:26:15,520 God didn’t bring his presence to his people 552 00:26:15,520 –> 00:26:18,959 in this ark because he wanted to destroy them. 553 00:26:18,959 –> 00:26:20,959 Why was there an ark in the first place? 554 00:26:20,959 –> 00:26:23,300 Because God wanted to bless them 555 00:26:24,739 –> 00:26:28,459 and if he would come to God in God’s proscribed way 556 00:26:28,459 –> 00:26:31,180 that blessing that had now come to Obed-edom 557 00:26:31,180 –> 00:26:32,599 would indeed come to David 558 00:26:32,599 –> 00:26:34,920 and would come to the people of God. 559 00:26:35,900 –> 00:26:40,180 David has joy because although he trembles 560 00:26:40,180 –> 00:26:43,939 because this awesome God has the pwer 561 00:26:43,939 –> 00:26:47,619 and the will to judge every flouting of his law 562 00:26:47,619 –> 00:26:51,000 he has the desire and the heart to bring blessing 563 00:26:51,000 –> 00:26:52,739 to his people who will come to him 564 00:26:52,739 –> 00:26:55,819 in the proscribed way, that is why so often surely 565 00:26:55,819 –> 00:26:57,219 you have in the psalms, 566 00:26:57,219 –> 00:26:59,140 David brings these two things together. 567 00:26:59,160 –> 00:27:04,160 He says, fear the Lord and rejoice with gladness, 568 00:27:05,160 –> 00:27:06,560 these two things aren’t a part 569 00:27:06,560 –> 00:27:09,699 because the same awesomeness that would cause you 570 00:27:09,699 –> 00:27:13,099 to tremble before God if he were against you 571 00:27:14,400 –> 00:27:18,839 is the source of joy that you have in the presence of God 572 00:27:18,839 –> 00:27:21,359 when you know that he is for you, 573 00:27:21,359 –> 00:27:23,140 this God is for me. 574 00:27:25,079 –> 00:27:26,880 Well of course, all of this is pointing 575 00:27:27,079 –> 00:27:30,020 very, very wonderfully to the Lord Jesus Christ. 576 00:27:30,979 –> 00:27:35,760 The Ark was the place where God drew near to his people. 577 00:27:36,939 –> 00:27:41,079 And when God came there was both judgment and blessing 578 00:27:41,079 –> 00:27:43,140 made known to David then. 579 00:27:44,359 –> 00:27:47,160 And Jesus Christ is the one 580 00:27:47,160 –> 00:27:51,060 in whom God draws near to us. 581 00:27:52,319 –> 00:27:54,479 And when he comes into the world 582 00:27:54,479 –> 00:27:59,000 there is a breaking out of judgment and of blessing 583 00:27:59,000 –> 00:28:02,839 and both focus on the cross. 584 00:28:03,739 –> 00:28:07,760 You see, the cross demonstrates clearly 585 00:28:07,760 –> 00:28:11,939 that God is the God who judges 586 00:28:11,939 –> 00:28:14,219 every flouting of his law. 587 00:28:14,219 –> 00:28:16,819 That’s why there was a cross. 588 00:28:17,760 –> 00:28:19,099 He judges sin 589 00:28:20,319 –> 00:28:22,959 but at the same time the cross makes abundantly clear 590 00:28:23,040 –> 00:28:24,979 why is it Jesus that’s dying on the cross 591 00:28:24,979 –> 00:28:26,079 and not you and me? 592 00:28:26,079 –> 00:28:29,119 Because God wants to bless sinners. 593 00:28:30,239 –> 00:28:33,099 To judge sin and to bless sinners. 594 00:28:34,000 –> 00:28:37,780 Not one or the other but both together in Jesus Christ 595 00:28:37,780 –> 00:28:42,319 so that when you come to God in his prescribed way 596 00:28:42,319 –> 00:28:45,180 through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 597 00:28:45,180 –> 00:28:47,579 you can come to him with joy 598 00:28:47,579 –> 00:28:49,920 because the judgment that is due to us 599 00:28:49,920 –> 00:28:51,939 is dealt with in Jesus. 600 00:28:53,239 –> 00:28:55,760 And we are brought into the knowledge of the blessing 601 00:28:55,760 –> 00:29:00,880 of this awesome God who now is for us. 602 00:29:01,839 –> 00:29:04,760 And that’s why as Christians we’re able to anticipate 603 00:29:04,760 –> 00:29:07,800 standing in his presence, not with a sense of dread 604 00:29:09,199 –> 00:29:10,579 but with a sense of joy. 605 00:29:12,439 –> 00:29:13,979 So, let me ask you this question, 606 00:29:13,979 –> 00:29:17,060 are you finding joy in the presence of God? 607 00:29:18,920 –> 00:29:21,319 You see that’s what’s so very, very staking 608 00:29:21,920 –> 00:29:23,040 as they bring the Ark to Jerusalem, 609 00:29:23,040 –> 00:29:25,560 the whole scene is full of joy. 610 00:29:25,560 –> 00:29:28,040 This God is for us and we know this 611 00:29:28,040 –> 00:29:31,160 because we’re coming to him in his proscribed way. 612 00:29:32,520 –> 00:29:34,920 And I love the fact that at the end 613 00:29:34,920 –> 00:29:37,680 of this celebration we’re told in Verse 18 614 00:29:37,680 –> 00:29:40,719 that David blessed the people. 615 00:29:41,640 –> 00:29:43,599 From the presence of the Ark, 616 00:29:43,599 –> 00:29:48,459 the blessing of God now flows out over God’s people. 617 00:29:48,459 –> 00:29:51,300 And that just makes me think of how in the New Testament 618 00:29:51,300 –> 00:29:55,180 we’re told that God meets us in Jesus Christ 619 00:29:55,180 –> 00:30:00,040 so that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing 620 00:30:00,040 –> 00:30:02,479 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 621 00:30:02,479 –> 00:30:05,619 It’s as if even today in Jesus Christ 622 00:30:05,619 –> 00:30:09,699 blessings are pronounced over all of us, 623 00:30:09,699 –> 00:30:11,619 they’re offered to all of us. 624 00:30:11,619 –> 00:30:16,219 It’s as if God himself is able to stand forth and say, 625 00:30:16,219 –> 00:30:20,800 there’s blessing that can be yours if you will receive it, 626 00:30:20,800 –> 00:30:23,780 if you will have this Jesus Christ 627 00:30:23,780 –> 00:30:27,280 in whom God comes to us in grace and in mercy, 628 00:30:27,280 –> 00:30:32,280 blessing will be yours, joy will be yours. 629 00:30:32,339 –> 00:30:37,160 There are some scholars who think that Psalm 24 630 00:30:37,160 –> 00:30:40,000 was written in the light of this great day 631 00:30:40,000 –> 00:30:43,060 when the ark was brought to Jerusalem 632 00:30:43,060 –> 00:30:46,079 and I think that’s very likely for two reasons, 633 00:30:46,079 –> 00:30:48,839 the way it begins and the way it ends. 634 00:30:48,839 –> 00:30:51,880 The way it begins is with a question, 635 00:30:51,880 –> 00:30:56,500 who shall ascend the hill of the Lord 636 00:30:56,500 –> 00:31:01,500 and who shall stand in His Holy Presence? 637 00:31:01,959 –> 00:31:03,680 Well, you can see that that question 638 00:31:03,680 –> 00:31:06,180 comes right out of the death of Uzzah, doesn’t it? 639 00:31:07,199 –> 00:31:09,380 Touch the Ark, Stone Dead. 640 00:31:10,699 –> 00:31:13,420 Sinners in the presence of a Holy God 641 00:31:13,420 –> 00:31:16,260 who can ascend the hill of the Lord 642 00:31:16,319 –> 00:31:20,780 and who can stand in the presence of this God. 643 00:31:22,420 –> 00:31:26,420 But then the way that the same Psalm ends 644 00:31:26,420 –> 00:31:30,500 reflects the coming of the Ark into Jerusalem 645 00:31:30,500 –> 00:31:31,780 when they do it God’s way 646 00:31:31,780 –> 00:31:33,219 and it’s just full of joy 647 00:31:33,219 –> 00:31:36,099 and it ends with these words that many of you will know. 648 00:31:36,099 –> 00:31:40,459 Lift up your heads, o gates, and be lifted up, 649 00:31:40,459 –> 00:31:45,420 o ancient doors, and let the King of glory come in. 650 00:31:46,979 –> 00:31:50,699 It’s as if, you see, David is thinking of the Ark 651 00:31:50,699 –> 00:31:53,300 coming through the gates of Jerusalem 652 00:31:53,300 –> 00:31:55,959 and he’s saying, fling the gates open, 653 00:31:57,579 –> 00:31:59,680 pull up the doors, 654 00:32:00,920 –> 00:32:05,920 because the presence of God is coming right here among us. 655 00:32:08,420 –> 00:32:10,260 And I want to say to the person 656 00:32:10,260 –> 00:32:12,699 who has been offended by God, 657 00:32:13,660 –> 00:32:16,219 to the person who has been missing out 658 00:32:16,219 –> 00:32:17,739 on the blessing of God, 659 00:32:17,739 –> 00:32:22,160 and to the person today who has lost your joy in God, 660 00:32:22,160 –> 00:32:23,939 you could do nothing better 661 00:32:23,939 –> 00:32:26,380 in response to the word of God today 662 00:32:26,380 –> 00:32:30,920 than to fling wide the gates of your heart and your life 663 00:32:32,099 –> 00:32:36,859 and let the Lord who comes to bless you in. 664 00:32:36,859 –> 00:32:40,380 What do you gain by hanging on to your offense 665 00:32:41,140 –> 00:32:41,979 and your anger, 666 00:32:41,979 –> 00:32:43,260 when what you’re really doing 667 00:32:43,260 –> 00:32:45,939 is you’re shutting out the presence of the Lord 668 00:32:45,939 –> 00:32:47,979 who comes to bless with great joy. 669 00:32:49,140 –> 00:32:52,420 Nobody finds joy on that path. 670 00:32:52,420 –> 00:32:54,760 Why should you stay on it any longer? 671 00:32:56,339 –> 00:32:58,180 And then there’s one more thing here, 672 00:32:58,180 –> 00:33:01,540 and it’s the theme of staying faithful 673 00:33:01,540 –> 00:33:03,520 in the service of God, 674 00:33:03,520 –> 00:33:07,459 staying faithful in the service of God. 675 00:33:07,459 –> 00:33:12,459 After this wonderful celebration was complete, 676 00:33:12,459 –> 00:33:15,699 and after David had not only been blessed himself, 677 00:33:15,699 –> 00:33:18,319 but pronounced blessing over the people, 678 00:33:18,319 –> 00:33:20,479 verse 20 we’re told, 679 00:33:20,479 –> 00:33:25,280 and David returned to bless his household. 680 00:33:26,859 –> 00:33:28,420 Now, credit to David. 681 00:33:29,400 –> 00:33:34,400 After all his public duty on this particular occasion, 682 00:33:35,339 –> 00:33:38,560 when he was done with his public responsibility, 683 00:33:38,560 –> 00:33:40,920 he wanted to make sure that the blessing 684 00:33:40,920 –> 00:33:43,599 came to his own family as well. 685 00:33:44,500 –> 00:33:46,500 He didn’t forget his own family. 686 00:33:47,500 –> 00:33:50,239 And so, having been blessed himself, 687 00:33:50,239 –> 00:33:52,359 having blessed the people, 688 00:33:52,359 –> 00:33:57,359 he now comes home to bless his household. 689 00:33:58,560 –> 00:34:00,380 And I want you to see that when he came back, 690 00:34:00,380 –> 00:34:01,859 it didn’t go so well. 691 00:34:02,760 –> 00:34:05,719 See, the truth is that while some people 692 00:34:05,719 –> 00:34:09,479 will open the gates of their lives 693 00:34:09,479 –> 00:34:11,919 to the Lord, others will not. 694 00:34:13,639 –> 00:34:17,239 Some will hold onto their anger 695 00:34:17,239 –> 00:34:19,320 to their own destruction, 696 00:34:20,320 –> 00:34:22,479 and they will miss out on the blessing 697 00:34:22,479 –> 00:34:24,620 that they could have enjoyed. 698 00:34:25,919 –> 00:34:29,060 Now one person who was like that very sadly 699 00:34:29,060 –> 00:34:31,719 was David’s own wife, Michal. 700 00:34:31,719 –> 00:34:33,659 If you look at verse 16, you’ll see 701 00:34:33,659 –> 00:34:36,379 that while the celebration was going on, 702 00:34:36,379 –> 00:34:39,580 Michal, the daughter of Saul looked out of the window 703 00:34:39,580 –> 00:34:41,860 and she saw King David leaping 704 00:34:41,860 –> 00:34:43,580 and dancing before the Lord, 705 00:34:43,580 –> 00:34:47,820 and she despised him in her heart. 706 00:34:48,679 –> 00:34:51,659 And so David comes back after all this joy, 707 00:34:52,580 –> 00:34:54,620 and he wants to bring a blessing 708 00:34:54,620 –> 00:34:58,120 to his own household and share the joy with them. 709 00:34:59,300 –> 00:35:01,360 And when he comes into his own house 710 00:35:01,520 –> 00:35:03,100 and closes the front door, 711 00:35:04,120 –> 00:35:07,879 the person he loves is as cold as ice. 712 00:35:08,939 –> 00:35:11,120 And some of you know what that’s like. 713 00:35:12,459 –> 00:35:15,620 And some of you may even experience that today, 714 00:35:15,620 –> 00:35:16,959 it is so hard. 715 00:35:17,919 –> 00:35:19,419 You’ve been blessed. 716 00:35:20,219 –> 00:35:21,800 You’ve been in the presence of God. 717 00:35:21,800 –> 00:35:22,879 You’ve been lifted. 718 00:35:22,879 –> 00:35:23,959 You’ve been helped. 719 00:35:23,959 –> 00:35:26,300 You’ve been encouraged and you’ve been strengthened. 720 00:35:26,300 –> 00:35:28,959 And you long that you could share something of that 721 00:35:28,959 –> 00:35:30,679 with the people that you love. 722 00:35:32,000 –> 00:35:34,179 But when you go home, 723 00:35:34,179 –> 00:35:37,179 there’s a son or a daughter 724 00:35:37,179 –> 00:35:39,800 or a husband or a wife or a father or a mother 725 00:35:39,800 –> 00:35:41,120 who’s waiting for you. 726 00:35:42,600 –> 00:35:43,979 And they’re offended with God. 727 00:35:43,979 –> 00:35:45,199 They’re angry with God. 728 00:35:45,199 –> 00:35:48,459 And the more joy you have in God, 729 00:35:48,459 –> 00:35:51,780 the more they despise what they see in you. 730 00:35:53,659 –> 00:35:58,439 And here’s the question that comes for us in that situation. 731 00:35:59,260 –> 00:36:02,520 When that happens, 732 00:36:02,520 –> 00:36:06,739 are you going to stay faithful to God? 733 00:36:06,739 –> 00:36:11,739 There’s a great sadness here with Michael. 734 00:36:12,820 –> 00:36:16,459 Verse 20, very clearly says she was the daughter of Saul. 735 00:36:16,459 –> 00:36:19,360 Repeating that as if to remind us 736 00:36:19,360 –> 00:36:20,860 that when she speaks, 737 00:36:20,860 –> 00:36:25,620 she really is the voice of a kingdom that is passing away. 738 00:36:26,219 –> 00:36:29,020 Michael, while she loved David, the champion, 739 00:36:29,020 –> 00:36:30,580 when he was defeating Goliath 740 00:36:30,580 –> 00:36:32,459 and winning all these great victories, 741 00:36:32,459 –> 00:36:35,899 she really despised the simple believer 742 00:36:35,899 –> 00:36:39,340 who danced for joy in the presence of God. 743 00:36:40,860 –> 00:36:42,739 What’s David gonna do about that? 744 00:36:44,899 –> 00:36:46,040 What are you gonna do? 745 00:36:47,080 –> 00:36:48,620 The answer, very wonderfully, 746 00:36:48,620 –> 00:36:52,860 is that David stays faithful to the service of God. 747 00:36:52,860 –> 00:36:55,459 He says, verse 21, to Michael, 748 00:36:55,540 –> 00:36:59,419 I will celebrate before the Lord. 749 00:37:01,120 –> 00:37:02,959 In effect, he says something like this 750 00:37:02,959 –> 00:37:04,739 in the lines that follow. 751 00:37:04,739 –> 00:37:07,860 You may despise me for this, 752 00:37:08,760 –> 00:37:10,479 and it may be that in the future 753 00:37:10,479 –> 00:37:12,739 you will despise me even more, 754 00:37:13,959 –> 00:37:18,780 but however contemptible I become in your eyes, 755 00:37:18,780 –> 00:37:21,060 I will worship the Lord, 756 00:37:21,060 –> 00:37:23,459 I will seek his presence, 757 00:37:23,479 –> 00:37:25,659 I will live to serve him, 758 00:37:25,659 –> 00:37:29,600 and in him I will find great joy. 759 00:37:31,020 –> 00:37:36,020 Friends, nothing good can ever come 760 00:37:36,179 –> 00:37:38,439 to your unbelieving loved ones 761 00:37:38,439 –> 00:37:41,520 by you loving Jesus Christ less. 762 00:37:43,260 –> 00:37:48,260 Nothing good can ever come to your unbelieving loved ones 763 00:37:48,580 –> 00:37:53,419 by you loving Jesus Christ less. 764 00:37:53,419 –> 00:37:57,379 And here David gives to us the most marvelous example 765 00:37:57,379 –> 00:38:02,379 of strength and stability and faithfulness 766 00:38:02,419 –> 00:38:03,780 in the service of God. 767 00:38:05,080 –> 00:38:07,100 So here we have held before us 768 00:38:07,100 –> 00:38:10,100 the living God of the Bible, 769 00:38:10,100 –> 00:38:14,000 the God who judges every flouting of His law. 770 00:38:14,000 –> 00:38:17,580 This God of course is despised by the world 771 00:38:17,580 –> 00:38:18,979 and always will be, 772 00:38:18,979 –> 00:38:21,020 and even beyond this life, 773 00:38:21,899 –> 00:38:24,300 there will be an awful eternity 774 00:38:25,459 –> 00:38:28,260 of those who continue to be angry with Him 775 00:38:28,260 –> 00:38:29,899 and offended with Him 776 00:38:29,899 –> 00:38:31,260 and to rage against Him, 777 00:38:31,260 –> 00:38:34,320 forever and forever to their own destruction. 778 00:38:36,260 –> 00:38:38,939 But this God who brings every sin to judgment 779 00:38:38,939 –> 00:38:41,780 is the God who brings blessing to sinners 780 00:38:41,780 –> 00:38:45,620 who will come to Him in His prescribed way. 781 00:38:45,620 –> 00:38:48,860 And He comes near to us in Jesus Christ, 782 00:38:48,860 –> 00:38:50,219 not to condemn us. 783 00:38:50,219 –> 00:38:53,620 God does not come to you in Jesus Christ to condemn you. 784 00:38:53,620 –> 00:38:57,439 He comes to you in Jesus Christ to bless you. 785 00:38:58,840 –> 00:39:00,500 And those who receive Him 786 00:39:01,500 –> 00:39:05,439 will be blessed with great joy. 787 00:39:05,439 –> 00:39:06,479 Let’s pray together. 788 00:39:07,659 –> 00:39:09,080 Father in heaven, 789 00:39:12,219 –> 00:39:14,360 may it be that today 790 00:39:15,919 –> 00:39:18,139 old offenses 791 00:39:18,139 –> 00:39:21,860 that we have taken at you and your ways 792 00:39:22,780 –> 00:39:26,379 are laid at the foot of the cross 793 00:39:27,659 –> 00:39:32,379 where you draw near to us in order to restore your blessing 794 00:39:34,939 –> 00:39:38,820 and coming afresh and flinging the gates of our lives 795 00:39:38,820 –> 00:39:42,100 newly wide open to you. 796 00:39:43,379 –> 00:39:46,919 Embracing you in faith and in repentance. 797 00:39:47,679 –> 00:39:52,679 May it be today that in many lives, blessing is restored, 798 00:39:53,780 –> 00:39:56,060 joy is increased, 799 00:39:57,139 –> 00:40:01,899 and faithful stability in your service continues. 800 00:40:03,419 –> 00:40:07,540 For these things we ask in the savior’s name 801 00:40:08,459 –> 00:40:11,800 and all of god’s people together said amen.